in touch, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened approaching next
in touch, ridden and every chance when hit 2 out, kept on well to lead run-in
left in front 2nd, soon clear, ridden 3 out, joined next, steadied last, headed and no extra run-in
towards rear, reminders after 6th and soon beaten
led until blundered and unseated rider 2nd
held up, headway from approaching 7th to chase leaders approaching 4 out, ridden and soon one pace
towards rear, headway from 8th to chase leaders when fell 4 out
A potentially trappy contest where only a couple of them can be ruled out with any confidence and the vote goes to Top Dressing. Howard Johnson has his string flying now and the six-year-old does look an improver. The winner of a Carlisle contest on good ground last time, a 6lb rise looks fair and he can find what is necessary to defy it and win. Litron had Yankee Holiday behind him when lumping a big weight to victory at Newcastle last time, but is now 4lb worse off for one length. In any case he is not too consistent and so Sue Bradburne's charge is taken to reverse placing on a track she does well at. Connemara Rose has never won in 23 starts under rules and 10lb rise since his last run won't help, so he will have to wait for other days, while Charlie George went up 16lb for wins at Perth and Hexham and then had that doubled after another Hexham win last time. Despite the fact that it was an easy win, that is a huge hike in the weights and the handicapper may well have his measure now, so we prefer Top Dressing.
Litron (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Prominent, outpaced 9th, ridden after 4 out, led flat, kept on, won at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Yankee Holiday (10-10) by 1l, 4 ran.
Top Dressing (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden next, left in lead last, driven out, won at Carlisle 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd beating Malt de Vergy (10-4) by 1l, 13 ran.
Yankee Holiday (IRE) 6-5fav (10-10) With leaders, led 3rd, ridden 4 out, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Litron (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Connemara Rose (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Led early, headed after 2nd, 3rd 4 out, ridden and no impression from before 2 out, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Outlaw Princess (11-1) at Fairyhouse 2m mrs nov chs sft.
Wyn Dixie (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Led, soon clear, headed after 2 out, soon ridden and weakened from last, 4th of 7, 12l behind Glingerbank (11-1) at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd.
Charlie George 11-10fav (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, led between last 2, comfortably, won at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf beating Gunson Hight (10-8) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Royal Glen (IRE) 33-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden 3 out, kept on from next, nearest finish, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Glingerbank (11-1) at Kelso 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd.
